The Vishwa Hindu Parishad struck a combative note on Monday asking thousands of religious leaders gathered for a dharna to prepare for sacrifice and another "Mahabharat", as they declared a war on secularism.
A day after the Dharam Sansad ended, the saints and VHP acvtivists marched towards Parliament, but were met at the Parliament Street police station by heavy security arrangements, policemen in riot gear and barricades. There the sadhus sat on dharna, having promised a non-violent protest. Pro-temple slogans rent the air as saints and activists marched in in groups of hundreds, waving flags, sticks and trishuls.
The VHP and religious leaders of the Ramjanmbhoomi movement, who have been fighting shy of talking dates, said a temple would be built in the next one-and-a-half years and if the "undisputed" land was not handed over to them by March 25 next, they would intensify their stir.
Speaker after speaker on the trucks-turned-dais attacked political parties, making no attempt to mince words of disdain about the present BJP-led government at the Centre. Over four hours of talking tough, they warned the BJP that it could not hope to return to power without the "blessings of those who seated you in North Block and South Block."
They demanded a law enacted to facilitate building the Ram temple and taunted members of Parliament for doing nothing towards the temple cause, or that of stopping cow slaughter, despite "90% being Hindus". They also urged Hindus to proliferate, warning that Muslims would soon outnumber them if they continued to be cautious about the number of children they had.
VHP leader Pravin Togadia, set the tone with a fiery speech, describing the planned satyagrah in March as the "last religious war", warned: "We will come again on March 27, and bring the country’s people with us. Till today Ayodhya was in UP, now every village would be turned into Ayodhya."
It was a shame that the MPs in Parliament that "the hands that rise to bless you are sitting here to beg", Togadia said, exhorting the gathered saints to get ready "for another Mahabharat battle", and a call that was taken up by most other speakers. And yet again, Togadia asked the Congress to support the temple movement, promising that any party that did so would get a two-thirds majority in the next elections.
Upbeat after the Gujarat elections, religious heads who spoke after him, including the head of the Ram janambhoomi Nyas Paramhans Ramchandra Dass, echoed Togadia linking coming to power with the Ram temple.
Paramhans, who had threatened to commit suicide last year if not allowed to perform "shilaadan" in Ayodhya, said what they were asking for now was the "undisputed" land excluding the 80 by 40 feet disputed area and if this was not handed over by March 25, he would carry stones and bricks to build the temple on his head to that land.
On the disputed area, "We will not say anything till the verdict comes, but whatever happens, we will not allow a mosque to be built there ever again", the nyas chief vowed to thunderous applause and shouts of "Jai Sri Ram."
Speaking at the end, VHP chief Ashok Singhal asked Hindus to stop being a divided house and unite to fight against secularists. In this he included all politicians, including the present Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Singhal said irrespective of the Supreme Court's verdict on March 6, the VHP would continue its agitation till "we get unhindered control over the Ramjanabhoomi, including the disputed site.
Conch shells were sounded and the Hanuman chaalisa read as the Gujarat election star, Acharya Dharmnedra, reminded the gathering that this was what they did as the Babri mosque was brought down in December 1992.